Little Gifts

Good on you for checking the rules! I'm pretty sure we've had a link on here before to a dog for sale but with a clear injury in the picture. It may have later been removed but it assisted in the dog's rescue at that time. And in this case at least the dog is desexed. Certainly don't email if you're not comfortable. There are lots of pug lovers out there so hopefully she finds a proper new home.

I've had a migraine most of last night and today. I let the foster pup out of her crate at 5am this morn and she and my girl have played bitey face on top on me on the bed alllllll day. I'll swap you a couple of unrobken ones with some broken ones for a bit!

Why isn't it ok to link? We've had Gumtree links on here before in rescue. What I tend to do is email the person who has placed the ad advising that it might be worth seeing if the original breeder will take the dog back. If it is FTGH I might advise them to contact a breed rescue (if it exists) or local rescue group that might be able to assist them, especially if they are giving away an undesexed animal or seem to be in desperate circs. If they say in their ad that the dog has behavioural problems but they love it I might suggest they contact a good behaviouralist rather than give a dog away they do care for. Some people have no clue what to do when it comes to issues for their pets.

Oh I forgot about the toilets at Nudgee Beach (or lack thereof). I usually have a long drive home so need to stop at one of those a la natural toilets at the boat ramp just down the road. My eyes water and I have to hold my breath for the duration of my piddling. There is just no oxygen! It's awful!

Pers that is just the most amazing photo - it is so full of life and really tells a story about the bush to me - the dry growth at the front and the green trees at the back, so full of contradiction just like the real thing!

Peiradise has Peinics at an off leash park at Nudgee Beach because people are coming from all over as well. It is not a huge park but it does have a covered area if it is rainy. People without pei who just happen to turn up at the same time must be very shocked to see so many of us there at the same time taking over the place but there have never been any complaints and no dog fights that I have ever seen. So I would suggest an off leash dog park that has lots of shade trees and probably some covered tables for the humans to leave their gear out of reach of doggy mouths if needed. Search 'off leash areas south east queensland' and you might come up with something nice. Maybe also consider parking if there will be a lot of cars and dogs - I'd be wanting off road parking just in case.

What is it with puppies and chicken? Or even bland old boiled chicken and boiled rice glug? You can lose a finger!

My old SBT girl used to love grooming my parent's old cat. The cat would be practically dripping with her saliva after it's entire head (including inside the ears, eyes, teeth and lips) had received a thorough licking. I have no idea why you would want to eat someone else's ear wax and eye goobers but clearly some dogs are into it and some cats like it!

Practice for fighting sounds instinctual and right because I am starting to feel that there is more purpose to some of the things our dogs do than to simply amuse us! Based on how rough and noisy this game can get there is rarely any accidental damage so they show amazing self control. Sneezes are also common here during bitey face and it nearly always occurs on the lounge furniture when people are trying to sit there too watching tv. Maybe they like us watching their fighting practice? I'd prefer them to be sweaty gladiators if they're going to be that close! I also have a game with my dogs where I lie on the floor and play dead - they try to lick and nose me back to life!

My shar pei foster pup must've played bitey face with my staffy girl for about an hour tonight. On the basis of canine behaviour does this game actually serve a learning purpose for the pup? Or even if the dogs are older does it reinforce some kind of acceptable social behaviour or interaction or acknowledgement of pack order? I just started wondering about this type of play after comments on the thread about how older dogs know how to treat pups differently. I know not all dogs are into bitey face either so it started me thinking if it serves a developmental purpose or is simply fun?

Yes a special physio was part of my recovery. I've had to change how I do number 1s and 2s, cough, sit up in bed, all kinds of stuff really which is probably why I am yet to experience any real issues. I have learnt bronchitis and a full bladder do not work well together! As things change I will go back for more checks and to learn any new holding it all in techniques I need. Regardless, it could've been much worse given it was located at the base of my spine. I wish they had've operated before it started leaking but such is life.

Brookestar that was really interesting to know as the adult dogs we own are both very different breeds, as are the dogs we foster, so ears and tails all do very different things on all of them. I remember one young foster boy we had here was a pushy thing and I had to take him back to the rescuer's place after about a week to where there are loads of other dogs to be 'pushy' with. There were no rumbles upon his arrival and she said he'd learnt some manners while he'd been with me and I was so proud because he was surrendered for his dominance behaviours. Really it is our two dogs that do all the hard work there though! It makes me love them even more when I realise that!

In comparison statutory child protection workers would not be able to enter a house without the police even if they could see an injured child inside an open window. Nor would they be able to do more than knock on the front door and leave a card without the police - no wandering around the house and yard for evidence gathering. Obviously lots of pets are kept in backyards so maybe that is ok but to have more powers than child protection workers to enter a house without the police seems very wrong to me.

As a foster carer with 2 adult dogs I find if the foster is under 1 year our dogs treat them very differently. They go into monitoring and teaching mode. I've just had 2 pups here from 11 week of age and my dogs understood straight away if they were being too rough with the puppies in their play and one would always lie in guard when the pups took one of their many naps throughout the day. They have even accepted a bit of nipple nudging and tail chewing. We don't normally have foster dogs this young and our two just seemed to know and adjust themselves accordingly, even at food and treat time.

OMG ! Thats very serious stuff. Hope you are OK now. Nah the incontinence thing will worsen as I age and after menopause. It isn't really an issue yet but I'm not exactly looking forward to the day I sneeze and pee at the same time! They put some experimental piece of pig in the hole that was left so I'm hoping with medical advances they might also be able to come up with something to address any incontinence when it hits! Maybe sew up the rest of my holes? Ha! This same beautiful dog also likes to lie in a certain position across my right groin when we watch tv at night. I reckon I'm going to end up with hip problems in my old age from it but right now it seems to work perfectly for her when she hears a noise and needs a structure to push against to get the quickest speed up. I've given up worrying about all the toenail gouges on my inner left thigh from her leaving the 'starting block'. She also likes to include me in zoomies - kind of like when a swimmer hits the end of the pool and turns. Any part of my body will do as a trajectory. Too bad I bruise easily. Yes, I am caught in a cycle of abuse with the one I love!

Oh dear. Thank you for letting me know about Prinny too. I actually remembered she was named Princess/Prinny about a day after I posted but haven't been near a computer to change my post. Rest in Peace lovely girls.

I was having a really crap time with my eating disorders and was pretty much curled up in bed wanting the world to go away. My heart girl Stussy has always sensed when I am not 'well'. This particular day, when she was still only quite young, she jumped onto the bed and left her current favourite toy on my chest. I could see her trying to tell me that the toy made her happy and she hoped it would make me happy too. God I love that dog!

I had a front tooth chipped when someone decided to fling themselves (all 20kg) into my loving arms from the stairs! By far my worst was the heart girl when she was just a cute little puppy playing a game of chase and running around and around my feet while I was carrying a basket of washing to the line. I didn't want to stand on her so fell onto the concrete and ended up with an abcess on the base of my spine that eventually started leaking, resulted in several lots of surgery and ultimately damaged about a third of my core muscles so I will become incontinent from both ends as I age! I'm sure she will still adore me if I stink of my own urine!

A close friend is a foster carer for smallies with the RSCPA in Brisbane. She has also done home checks although I don't know if they do it for all their fosters or just some. Part of their policy which is strange is that the dogs get returned to the RSCPA if there is interest in them, so rather than potential adopters getting to see them in a home style foster environment it is all done back in the shelter environment which must be hard for the dogs, particularly if they don't get matched and go back out to the foster carers again (or even worse, remain at the shelter). I suppose this is because the officers need to ensure the match is a good one and they can't logistically send a worker to a foster carer's home when the visit is happening. I hope they can get to the stage in the future of training their foster carers to provide an appraisal of how the meet and greet went rather than moving the dog around.

Yep, I jinxed things for Dimples! Her interstate move is no longer happening, which is just as well because the poor girl got a bit of a bug late last week. She's doing much better now and is growing taller everyday - she has the legs of a supermodel now! We think she is beautiful with her black snozz so hopefully somebody else will too. Roan's situation has improved. He now sleeps in his crate without screaming and it is hoped the allergies will settle. But no more puppies for me - I think I baby them too much! Give me a naughty teen or shy young adult anytime!

Dog Sense have you posted in the rescue threads? I know there is a rescue group called Little Dog Rescue and there is also the Best Friend's Rescue network, both on FB and the BFR page covers numerous groups now and has a huge membership to get the word out. If you want to protect privacy contact both orgs through their website contact details and they could get the word out without releasing your details.

I wish I'd thought of taking photos of him in it Cynthia but there was so much going on at the Pet Expo (where he found his new mum) that I forgot! He was so proud trotting along like a big dog! If his mum sends me any I'll ask her if I can share them here. Unfortunately one of Roan's human family members is experiencing rashes/possible allergy to him already so we are just endeavouring to work through that issue with them at present. Fingers and toes crossed that it is resolveable and he can stay with them. As for Dimples - well she may just be packing her bags for a new home quite soon as well......don't want to jinx it till it happens!

T - are you talking about the old JRT girl Penni passing away? The one who got sprayed with yucky stuff???

My little Dweebles left me yesterday. I knew it was the right place for him when his new mummy was holding him, I went up to make sure he was alright and he looked at me like we'd never even met before! This is from the boy who used to scream if I moved out of his eyesight and he couldn't get to me! His new name is Albert and he is already sporting the most beautiful new harness and leash which je walks on like a pro (he hated walking for me!). Dimples is feeling a little lonely but it gives me an opportunity to do better one on one training with her. Stussy is also being big sister staying close to her and Wolf let her chew on her tail for a bit last night without giving her a hard time about it!

Do a search pup - it is all about pack dynamics (going back to wolves) and it made sense to us and it was easy to make and keep the changes. It lets us still spoil the dogs but on our terms. The most important change for us was to give all our dogs a pack role and support them in that. Once they had a purpose, the fighting and competition between them stopped. It was all related to the youngest trying to find her place in the pack and all of them understanding that the Alphas control everything.